Disclaimer: I don't own Eragon or anything associated with the Inheritance Series.
Claimer: I, SussieKitten, own this plot and the story. Borrow or steal my plot, my original characters (Axel) or story and I will report you. I also own my version of Saphira/Thorn's human appearances.
Warnings: Slash/Shōnen-ai – meaning mild guy x guy action. Swearing or strong language. Character Death – made up characters as of now. Implied Torture. Implied Rape/Underage Violation (Rape) – implied only, I won't be writing this. Mention of Rape/Underage Violation (Rape). Mention of past Character Death. If any of this disturbs you, click on the "back" button. I won't tolerate any flames.
A/N I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed, and to those that has put this story on their favourite and/or alert list! Seriously, thank you everyone. Today I bring you a very important chapter, people. To all you who have wondered what Galby wants with Eragon, you will now get your answer. There will be more about why Galby's after him in later chapters.
And last but not least, a huge thanks to my beta dragonrider713! ;D
RED HAZE
Part Five; Heritage
(10.55 PM - Saturday 14th of June. Inside the safe-house in the outskirts of Carvahall, Alagaësia)
It had been more than a month since they had arrived at the safe-house. Everyone had settled in quite well. Thorn came with food or anything else they needed twice a week. But he had been there only three times to talk to Murtagh, when he became too cold and unemotional. Murtagh was surprised that their final talk hadn't lasted longer. A half hour had gone by and Thorn had come to the conclusion that talking to Eragon helped, so there was no need for him to vent to Thorn for the rest of the stay.
Murtagh couldn't help but to agree. Something about talking to Eragon calmed him down. He had told the brunet about his nightmares and more about his non-relationship with his father. But there were things he refused to tell Eragon. There were things Murtagh knew would scare Eragon so much he doubted the brunet would ever look at him again. And that thought hurt far too much for him to even describe. So, for some things he shut his mouth and kept quiet.
"It's scary how inactive the Forsworn have been lately." Arya whispered to Murtagh as the whole group sat in the living room, watching TV.
"They have found the one they're looking for." Murtagh whispered back, making sure that Saphira and Eragon in particular couldn't hear them. "They have no reason to kill anyone else."
"Why did they start in the first place?" The black haired woman asked.
"They were looking for him, and I think that the only thing they knew was that the name he used started with an E. Once they realised they had the wrong kid, they killed him." Murtagh replied in an even lower voice.
"But why him?"
"That no one knows." The hazel eyed man said and shook his head.
"This is the 11 o'clock evening news. Tonight Alagaësia was once again shaken to its core as another brutal murder was discovered."
Murtagh quickly directed his gaze to the screen. He didn't like what he was hearing.
"The police was quickly on the scene. The teenagers that found the body described it to the media as a scene taken out of 'the Silence of the Lambs'." The reporter continued to say gravely. "The police didn't allow any pictures to be taken of the crime scene until an hour after the body was taken down and the scene thoroughly processed."
Murtagh winced. At the same time he wondered why the rest of the team hadn't called them yet. If he was correct in his assumptions, which he usually was, then the Forsworn had hit again.
"The victim has yet to be identified. The police have stated that they later will come forward with a description due to there being barely anything left for them to identify the victim with."
Murtagh could see that Saphira clasped onto Eragon out of the corner of his eye. She was obviously quite disturbed. And Eragon was looking green. Murtagh cursed inwardly when he figured that he feared that another teenager had died in the search for him.
"We have a reporter on the scene. What do you have to report, Carl?" The female reporter asked as the scene changed to a man standing outside in the night with cameras going off and voices talking around him.
"We have yet to get any more information from the police. The police seem quite disturbed, leading us to wonder just who might be behind this gruesome deed." The reporter named Carl said. "Wait, something seems to be happening."
Murtagh leaned forward as the camera started to rock a bit as the reporter and the cameraman ran in the direction of where the rest of the media had gathered. He frowned when he recognized Ajihad's grave face.
"Captain Black, who is the victim?"
"We have been unable to identify the victim as of yet." Ajihad said grimly. "We do however have a description of him which we will be giving out to the media."
"Do you know who did it?"
"What does he look like?"
"We don't know who is behind it yet, but we won't rest until we catch the killer or killers." Ajihad replied calmly. "The victim is a young man in his mid-twenties. He has dark hair and green eyes. He was wearing jeans with the name 'Jones' written down his right leg. His shirt was black and he was also wearing a leather jacket. If anyone knows the victim, we ask them to please contact the police."
"Is this the same murderers that murdered the previous nine teenagers?"
"Is it true that there are facts that the police are keeping from the people's eyes about these murders?"
"Are the rumours true that you suspect the Forsworn to be behind this?"
"We don't suspect anyone yet. Any information that doesn't come from the police is false until we confirm it. No further questions." Ajihad said and walked away from the questions shouted at him.
Axel quickly flipped the channel. Murtagh stood from his seat and grabbed the cordless phone. He ignored Arya's worried looks and dialled a number as he walked into the hallway for the privacy he would need during this call.
"Captain Black."
"What the fuck's going on?" Murtagh asked in a low voice. "Why weren't we informed of this murder? It has Galbatorix written all over it!"
Ajihad didn't answer until Murtagh had gotten into his room and closed the door. The older man sighed.
"There was another message on the body." He said gravely.
"Tell me." Murtagh growled. "I won't allow you to keep me in the dark about this."
"Murtagh, this is getting too close to home for you. I'm withdrawing you from the case. But you are to stay at the safe-house until we arrest Galbatorix." Ajihad said in a regretful tone.
"You damned well will not remove me from this case!" The dark brunet growled. "What was the message?!"
"You should listen to the Captain, Murtagh."
Murtagh paused.
"Stay out of this, Thorn."
"The message proves that you're too involved in this case. Even Therr is suspecting that you have prior involvement with Galbatorix now." Thorn said gravely.
"Fuck." Murtagh muttered. "Thorn, tell me the message. I need to know! ... Especially if I'm taken off this case."
"... They're after you, Murtagh." The redhead stated in a distressed voice. "The message said: 'We're coming for you next, M. We'll take E, then it's your turn. You never should have run.'"
Murtagh sat down, covering his eyes with his other hand. He blocked out the pain that had started to throb in his bicep as he tried to understand what the hell was going on.
"Having me once wasn't enough for him, eh?" The hazel eyed man said and chuckled darkly.
"You have your gun there, right?" Thorn asked in a deep voice.
"Always." Murtagh replied.
"Son, put Arya on the phone. I need to talk to her."
Murtagh glared at his door as he pushed himself to his feet and walked out of the room. He didn't bother to answer. He stayed silent as he gave the phone to Arya and stalked
over to the kitchen. There he found a glass, poured himself something he desperately wished was alcoholic and drowned it in one go.
"Arya here."
Axel padded over to him. Murtagh stared gloomily at the wall as he felt him come closer.
"What's going on?" He murmured.
"I've been taken off the case, but I need to stay here a little while longer." Murtagh replied emotionlessly.
Axel stared at him with an open mouth.
"I've officially been targeted by the Forsworn as well." Murtagh let out a dark chuckle. "Isn't the world a grand place?"
"For real, man?"
Murtagh just gave Axel a look. The blond's eyes flashed with panic for a second before going green again. He nodded and stalked over to Arya, who had just finished talking to the Captain. They immediately were engaged in a low and slightly panicked conversation.
"Murtagh?"
Murtagh sighed. Both Saphira and Eragon had come to him, looking so worried and panicked even he felt freaked by looking at them.
"This guy wasn't killed because of you, Rider. Don't you dare feel guilty, alright?" The hazel eyed man said firmly.
"But it was them, wasn't it?" Eragon asked.
"Yeah. But they were just trying to scare someone else. It has nothing to do with you whatsoever." Murtagh repeated.
Eragon nodded hesitantly.
"Why don't you two go to bed?" Murtagh suggested. "We cops have some stuff we need to talk about."
Eragon shot Murtagh a look before he was led away by Saphira. Murtagh clenched his teeth from the hurt he had seen there. During their time there he and Eragon had really connected. They had become friends and confidants. And now Eragon felt hurt that Murtagh wouldn't tell him everything that was going on. Murtagh shook his head and approached the two others.
"Murtagh, I hope you understand why the Captain is doing this." Arya commented quietly.
"Of course. But that doesn't mean I like it. I'm stuck here anyway, what's the difference from having me on the case or not?" Murtagh asked a little angrily.
He needed to keep his anger in check. Murtagh forced his own hurt and anger down the best he could.
"It's the difference from who gets to arrest Galbatorix or not." Axel answered maturely.
"You have a bigger chance at getting him with me on the team." Murtagh growled.
"And I never understood why that was." Arya said softly. "What are you and the Captain keeping from us?"
"Something that has everything to do with me and nothing to do with you."
Surprisingly it was Axel that was becoming pissed, not his sister.
"If we start to hear shit about you when we go to take down the bastard, you know we'll lose concentration. That can cost us our lives. It's better that we hear it from you, damnit." Axel hissed.
"I am damned well not going to tell you how he -" Murtagh cut himself off. "No. I'm not going to tell you, as simple as that."
"No, you were saying something. What did Galbatorix do?" Arya pressed on.
"I say this the kindest way possible, Arya... stay the hell out of my business. When someone doesn't want to talk, they don't want to talk."
"Murtagh -" The black haired woman started to say.
"I'm going to bed." Murtagh said harshly and stalked out of the room.
He slammed the door shut when he came to the bedroom and locked it behind him. Then he flung off his shirt and tore his bandages to shreds. He glared at the healed wound before starting to redress it, surprisingly with a steady hand. It had been a while since he had worn his sling. While his arm still occasionally hurt, Murtagh hated to wear it. He felt humiliated and weak when he wore it.
He finished trying the bandage, which he now wore more as a help for his aching arm-muscles, and changed for bed. He sat down and buried his head in his hands. He felt like screaming, like shooting something to pieces, like wounding the next person that came to see him... but he forced those urges down. He hadn't felt this angry in a long time. And it wasn't a shock that it was Galbatorix that was making him feel that way.
Murtagh reached over the slight gap between the two beds. He gathered the autopsy reports from the previous victims and prepared himself to read them thoroughly over. He needed to remind himself why he was doing what he was doing, and why he was not out there looking for Galbatorix ugly-assed self. Strangely enough, seeing just what Galbatorix instructed to be done on his victims was enough to anger him enough to make him want to send his ass to jail. There he was sure plenty of people would give Galbatorix a piece of their mind.
As he checked over the notations of the bruises, he made a mental note to copy Axel or Arya's copy of the autopsy report when he had the chance. He needed to see that everything that had been done to the newest victim had been done to the previous ones as well.
He skimmed over how the organs were cut out of the victims to check just how deep the violation and torture had gone. He sneered when he found the paragraph he was looking for. Then he checked the other eight files. They all said the same.
"Aren't your whores enough for you anymore, you bastard?" Murtagh muttered darkly. "Or is that maybe why you're after Rider?"
Murtagh closed the files and threw them onto the other bed. He forced down the will to vomit because of what he had read. He stood up and nearly threw open the window. He stared out into the night, the sneer becoming almost permanent on his face.
"I guess you aren't just a pedophile anymore." He whispered disgustingly.
He was startled when he saw a car drive up towards the house. He shouldered on a shirt, grabbed his gun and jumped out of the window. Then he stalked towards the moving vehicle. It stopped just outside of the house and the engine was turned off. Murtagh pulled back the safety on his gun and continued to move forward.
"... Murtagh?"
Murtagh stopped. He sighed and continued forward at a slower pace when he recognized Nasuada's form.
"Hello Nas. What brings you out here, I wonder." He said and stuffed the now secured gun into the back of his pants.
"You know why." Nasuada said sombrely.
"And let me guess, you're now going to tell me to get inside because I'm no longer a part of the investigation?"
Nasuada paused. Murtagh frowned when she reached into the car and pulled out not two, but three files. She walked closer to him with a serious look on her face.
"You know very well the answer to that, Murtagh." She said and sighed. "You're taken off the case from now on."
She leaned forward to put a hand on his shoulder. The file she had had in it slipped down the back of his shoulder and he barely managed to catch it when it reached his lower back.
"It's for your own good. Now, aren't you supposed to be inside?" Nasuada said and gave a subtle wink.
Murtagh returned the gesture and slipped the file behind his gun as he walked inside beside Nasuada.
"Nas, I didn't expect to see you before tomorrow." Arya said as she greeted the other female. "The others have gone to bed already."
"I was, but then things started happening!" Axel said as he stuck his head out of the closest bathroom, toothpaste still around his mouth. "What's going on?"
"I just came to give you your files. The Captain wanted them in your hands ASAP." The dark skinned girl said and handed Arya two files and a small bag.
"And you pulled the shortest straw?" Axel asked teasingly.
"Go wash your mouth, Toothpaste Boy." Nasuada called back.
"Murtagh, did you walk out in your socks?" Arya asked in a shocked voice.
"I was on high alert when I saw the car. You don't think about what you're wearing on your feet then." Murtagh replied and walked away from his co-workers.
"And don't think we'll give you a chance to copy these files!" Arya called after him.
Murtagh let out a low growl as he slipped into his room. To himself he grinned. He didn't need to do that now.
He locked the door and the window before he opened the file and read it over. He skipped the details and went to the autopsy report. He needed to know.
Murtagh wasn't surprised to see that the MO was much like the one done on the nine teenagers. He finally found the paragraph he was looking for and felt another sneer enter his lips.
"Yeah, definitely not just a pedophile anymore."
--RED.HAZE--
(12.28 PM - Sunday 15th of June. Inside the safe-house in the outskirts of Carvahall, Alagaësia)
"First things first. Eragon and Murtagh hereby have house arrest. You can't step outside for even a second." Arya said as she began their little meeting.
Eragon was surprised to see that Murtagh didn't react the slightest to the news. He just continued to stare into thin air.
"Second, no one leaves this house without a second person with them."
"Arya, what's going on?" Saphira piped up, looking thoroughly confused. "Why does Murtagh need to stay inside as well?"
"He has been targeted. My guess is that Galbatorix didn't like his heroic antics." Arya said simply.
Saphira's mouth became a thin line. The little colour in her cheeks had disappeared.
"Is that all?" Murtagh asked tiredly.
Arya nodded sharply. Murtagh slowly rose to his feet and walked out of the room. The black haired woman stared after him worriedly.
"Why don't you check on him, Eragon?" Axel asked in a soft murmur. "You're the only one he seems to listen to these days."
The brunet bit his lip and gave a small nod. Then he got up and half-ran after the dark haired male. He reached him just as Murtagh was about to close the door behind him.
"Murtagh." Eragon breathed.
The other man stopped. He looked over his shoulder before he slowly slipped inside the room. The door remained half-open. Eragon ducked inside and closed the door out of habit.
"What's going on?" Eragon asked softly.
Murtagh picked up a couple of files and put them into a drawer. Then he gathered the last ones and put them on the bedside table. He motioned for Eragon to sit down.
"It's true what Arya just said. I've been targeted."
"But, but you said that they were dying to have you back!" Eragon exclaimed.
Murtagh sighed.
"Seems like they found out I've been leaking their secrets." He said with a wry smile. "I'd probably be let back if I did something for them, but the rank they'd give me wouldn't be very high."
Eragon turned around to fully face the other. Murtagh sat as he always did, his face turned towards the opposite bed, his feet planted on the floor. Eragon leaned onto the foot-end of the bed and pulled his legs to him.
"What rank?" He asked quietly.
"If I'm lucky, maybe as a messenger boy. If I'm not, then a lower one than I used to have." Murtagh murmured in answer.
Eragon bit his lip.
"You never told me what rank that was." He said and had to look away from his...
What were they? Were they friends? Confidants? Something more? Eragon couldn't be sure.
"Maybe it's time I did." Murtagh said and tipped his head back. "I won't lie to you, Rider. It was the second lowest rank you can have in a group like that. Just higher than a whore, but lower than a measly messenger boy or underling."
Eragon felt himself become a little green. Murtagh couldn't be serious! Because that would mean...
"From when I was eleven to when I was thirteen I was Galbatorix's favourite fucktoy. Back then he was well into his forties. He's over ten years older, and still he's into that." He sneered at the wall. "As a toy you get better looked after than whores. A toy is not someone people share, and if so, not with many people. I was lucky; I only had two guys that fucked me on a weekly basis. Others could have anything from one to five, or more."
Eragon tried to bury himself deeper into his knees. He told himself he could listen to this, and he would. Murtagh had had to live through it, and to have Murtagh trust him enough to tell him was an honour. He owed him to listen, no matter how much it hurt him to hear it.
"I was lucky enough that Morzan wasn't so sick that he wanted to play along."
Eragon swallowed down a little bile. And if he got sick from listening to it, how did Murtagh feel? Suddenly he was getting an insight to what Murtagh had nightmares about, what his childhood had been like. No wonder he had run away!
"During my time in the gang I was mentally tortured, beaten around and raped." Murtagh looked down at his hands. "It's a wonder I'm not more fucked up than I already am. I thank Tornac for that, for making me see a psychiatrist and for giving me the courage to keep going to one. If I hadn't, I would have been so messed up I might have ended up taking my life."
The brunet loosened his grip on his legs a bit. He let them slide down onto the bed's surface and put his hands on either side of them.
"You're amazingly strong." Eragon whispered.
Strong, unlike him. Eragon was weak, weaker than he could ever express.
"No, Rider. On the contrary. I'm as weak as they come." Murtagh sighed.
"You're lying again. You couldn't have gotten through that if you hadn't been strong. I couldn't have gotten through half of that and still come out alive."
"Rider..." Murtagh started but Eragon wouldn't let him finish.
"I saw my parents killed before my eyes. We were going to drive to my uncle one day, and I forgot something inside the house. When I got back I saw someone putting a bullet through my mom and dad's heads and setting the car on fire. The next thing I remember is my uncle picking me up and driving me to live with him and my cousin." Eragon paused.
Murtagh had turned in his seat. Granted, he had just turned his head and upper body, but he showed more than ever that he was listening to what Eragon was saying.
"It took me years to get over that shock. No treatment or therapist could get through to me. It was Saphira that saved me. She forced me to sit through a whole meeting with a specialist. I ended up going to two meetings a week for a year before I could even talk about what had happened." Eragon bit his lip. "I finished my last meeting when I was seventeen. Almost ten years later, and it was only then that I could finally begin to really feel alive."
Murtagh's eyes had softened considerably during his small speech.
"You are much stronger than I'll ever be." The hazel eyed man said.
"Hardly." Eragon snorted.
Murtagh leaned forward and laid a hand on his shoulder. Eragon felt his eyes widen as the other stared down at him.
"You are. You've been through some shit as well, Rider. Give yourself some credit." He said in a low and husky voice.
Eragon gulped. He gave a small nod and tried desperately to hide his blush. Murtagh smirked in satisfaction.
"If you give yourself some credit, I'll do the same." He piped up before the other could fully pull away.
Murtagh met his gaze again. The other seemed to study him before giving him a small and rare true smile. Eragon found himself thinking that he had never seen a more beautiful smile before.
"That's a deal, kiddo."
--RED.HAZE--
(00.03 AM - Monday 16th of June. Inside the safe-house in the outskirts of Carvahall, Alagaësia)
"What will their next move be?" Nasuada asked in a low murmur.
Murtagh sat leaned against the wall outside of the living room and continued to listen.
Vanir, Nasuada and Thorn had come an hour or so earlier and had occupied the living room ever since. The door had been closed, but there was a small crack in the frame that made it possible to listen in. Saphira and Eragon had gone to sleep even before they had arrived, but Murtagh had been awakened by the sound of a car arriving. He had waited until he was sure everyone had gotten inside before sneaking out. He had then seated himself outside of the door and had been eavesdropping ever since.
"We can't be sure. I mean, I as hell didn't expect them to target Murtagh!" Axel exclaimed in a low voice.
Murtagh had to admit that he was amazed by Axel's ability to exclaim something and still be quiet.
"Have anyone checked out his connections to the gang?" Vanir drawled. "He can't just have been picked at random."
"That won't be necessary." Thorn spoke in his usual deep and quiet voice. "As a teenager he attracted Galbatorix's attention, much like Rider has done in the present. To Galbatorix, Murtagh was 'the one that got away'. Now that he knows where he is, he's after Murtagh again."
The hazel eyed man grinned to himself. He had always admired Thorn's creativity. Had he himself been in that same position, he would have either blurted out the truth or killed whoever had asked him the question.
"I ran a background check on him a few days ago. There are no files on Murtagh Morann other than a flimsy birth certificate, his drivers' licence, high school records and police files. There is absolutely nothing about where he was born, who his parents are... We got more on Eragon, and we know he was moved from Carvahall after his parent's death and had some records erased for protection!" Arya paused her ranting. "It's as if he suddenly just popped out of thin air."
"Murtagh never went to any public schools before high school, that's why there are no records on him. He was moved for his own protection much like Rider was." Thorn replied.
"Someone that has been erased from the database has more information about them than Morann does." Vanir shot in. "I'd say he was from another country, if it hadn't been for that we've already checked that possibility out."
Murtagh felt his heart jump up into his throat when Thorn stayed silent.
"Thorn?" Nasuada asked softly.
"They are not my secrets to share." He replied simply.
"What's going on?"
Murtagh reached for his gun before he recognized the voice. His shoulders relaxed and he pulled away his hand.
"They're having a meeting." Murtagh murmured in answer.
"Without you." Eragon stated. "But about you. That makes no sense."
"It wasn't originally about me. But then Therr just had to start digging." Murtagh spat as he glared at the door his co-workers were whispering behind.
"You should go in there and set them straight. Some people dig until they find what they're looking for. Do you want that to happen?" Eragon whispered.
Murtagh sighed. He nodded at the younger male before straightening himself. He laid his hand on the doorknob and waited. He watched as Eragon walked back to his room out of the corner of his eye. He was really glad that Eragon decided not to stick around to listen to what was certainly going to be said next. Eragon didn't have to sit through that again... Murtagh didn't want him to have to sit through it again. Once was enough.
"If I didn't know better I'd guess that he was Galbatorix's son or something." Vanir snorted.
Murtagh rolled his eyes and made his entrance.
"If you have something to say to me Therr, say it to my face." He drawled as he entered the room.
"Murtagh!" Nasuada shot up from her seat. "What are you -?"
"I was listening in. You know, just in case someone forgot what the case was originally about and started to dig his obnoxious nose into matters that are none of his business." Murtagh said and kicked the door shut.
He crossed his arms over his chest and glared at the black haired man. Vanir just sneered back.
"Go on then. What do you want to know, Therr?"
"Murtagh." Thorn said warningly.
"But you fail to ask the questions that really matter. You should be looking into why Galbatorix is interested in Eragon. I can give you the answer to his seemingly sudden interest in me, but Eragon is the real mystery here." Murtagh continued. "Why don't you do your job for once in your pathetic life, Therr?"
"You're a part of that job now, Morann. But I'll take whatever information you can get me." Vanir said with a smirk. "Why don't you tell the class why Galbatorix is suddenly so interested in you?"
Thorn stood up as well. Vanir shot a surprised and a little scared look in his direction. Thorn opened his mouth to speak but didn't get the chance to.
"Galbatorix wants me back." Murtagh replied emotionlessly. "That's why I've been targeted. That's why you can't find a paper trail on me. Before I was thirteen I didn't exist."
Murtagh looked away from the shocked faces before him around the dinner table. Thorn slowly sat down, his eyes never leaving Murtagh's form. The hazel eyed man gave his friend a small nod before he continued.
"I know what Galbatorix wants Eragon for, and I know why he wants me back." He paused. "Didn't anyone of you think to look closer at the autopsy report? The ten victims, and yes I'm including the newest one here, were all raped. Just prior to death too. So, just before Galbatorix decided to let his underlings be Hannibal's copy cats, he had some fun. Each and every fucking time."
"Are you saying that...?" Arya clasped a hand over her mouth.
"That he wants a couple of new fucktoys? Why, yes indeed he does." Murtagh said with a wry smirk.
"But... he, uh... wants you back? Meaning that you -"
"Used to be in Galbatorix's hold?" Murtagh stared right into Axel's eyes as he answered. "Yeah, I guess you could say that. And that, Therr, is why I know so damned much about how that bastard's mind works. I grew up with it."
Axel turned into a very interesting shade of green. Murtagh amusedly thought that it somehow matched his hair.
"Is that a good enough answer for you?" Murtagh drawled nastily. "It's the only answer I'm going to give you. From now on I suggest you start looking into Eragon's past to see why Galbatorix wants him. There is a reason; you just need to find it."
The dark haired brunet turned around and readied himself to exit the room. He had put his hand on the doorknob when a voice called him back.
"Murtagh, what do you think?"
Murtagh looked over his shoulder. He gave Thorn a slight smirk.
"His mother did a little disappearing act just after she finished high school. I'd check into those years. Maybe she is the missing link to the bastard."
Then he walked out of the room and slammed the door behind him.
--RED.HAZE--
(12.08 PM - Monday 16th of June. Inside the safe-house in the outskirts of Carvahall, Alagaësia)
Eragon was shocked when he woke up and realised how late it was. He checked the clock multiple times to be sure. The numbers didn't change. He had indeed slept past noon.
The brunet yawned and got to his feet. He changed as silently as he could, seeing as Axel was still fast asleep in his bed. Eragon snorted to himself as he picked up his favourite book of the month and walked outside. It seemed like last night's meeting had gone on for quite a while. He wondered what Murtagh had said to them to set them straight, or if he had said something at all.
He padded into the kitchen and put some bread into the toaster. He opened the fridge and got out something to drink. As he did so, a note on the fridge door captured his attention.
'Agon and Saph,
I drove back to the city to get some things we were missing. I'll be back before 6 pm. If anything happens, wake Axel up and make him do his job. If he's too much of a lazy ass, then run to Murtagh.
Nothing better happen while I'm out!
- Arya
Eragon gave another snort. Apparently the meeting had gone on far too long. Arya must have been the only one conscious enough to drive the others back.
Eragon ate his breakfast in silence. He was a little surprised not to see Saphira up since it was past noon. He shrugged and put away the dishes. Then he moved over to the couches and slung himself down. He settled himself down to read when a writing pad captured his attention. It was just lying there innocently on the table. Eragon bit his lip. He looked around to make sure he was alone before grabbing it and starting to look over its content.
It was mostly scribbles about where Galbatorix's HQ could be. Carvahall was circled with multiple pencil rings. Then there was some scribbles below as to why that city was most probable. Eragon was about to jump over the lines when he saw Murtagh's name mentioned.
M.M. ran away while G was in C.hall
Eragon frowned. That was true; Murtagh had run away when Galbatorix's HQ had been in Carvahall. But Murtagh had told him that place had been burned down.
Old HQ burned down. Decoy? Possible new HQ built in C.hall?
That made sense. If the police believed that Galbatorix had abandoned the city since he burned down his old HQ, then they wouldn't suspect him to build a new one.
E.R.'s connection to G?
Eragon froze when he read this. E.R. could only be one person: him.
Mother, two years unaccounted for:
- running away from G? – Possible
- captured by G? – Possible
Father:
- debt to G? – Unlikely. From a wealthy family in Teirm
- old crew member? – Unlikely. Police officer, clean records
Uncle:
- debt to G? – Unlikely. Independent farmer, clean records
The brunet swallowed. They had seriously put some thought into everything that had happened. His mother's name had been circled as well. It was likely they thought she was the 'connection'.
G wants E.R. as t/w?
Eragon froze again. The words didn't have to be written out for him to understand what it meant. Murtagh had used them more than once the day before. Toy. Whore.
The brown eyed teen threw the writing pad onto the table again. He hadn't needed to read that last part.
A noise startled him. He stood up and looked around. He relaxed and sat back down when he heard a door open and close. It was just someone waking up. He hoped it was either Saphira or Murtagh. If he were to be honest with himself, he hoped it was Murtagh. While Saphira was his best friend, he liked the bond he and Murtagh had. It was strange, that he had managed to develop such a deep bond during such a short and trying time.
Eragon just shook his head to himself. While he had time, he shouldn't spend it thinking about how close he and Murtagh had gotten. He had time after Galbatorix was locked behind bars.
Eragon stretched his arms over his head, stifling a yawn as he did so. He heard someone step into the living room and turned around to greet however it was. The smile fell from his face when he recognized the figure. Eragon opened his mouth to yell out but before he could utter even a sound a sickly sweet-smelling cloth was forced over his mouth and nose. He tried to scream and fight back, but he felt someone take hold of his arms from behind and hold him down. The world was quickly beginning to turn black. The last thing he saw was a cruel smirk and oily red hair before he passed out.
--RED.HAZE--
(02.00 PM - Monday 16th of June. Inside the safe-house in the outskirts of Carvahall, Alagaësia)
Murtagh sighed to himself as he finally dared to step out of his room. Ever since the night before, he had been less than willing to show his face to the others. He wasn't sure how Axel and Arya were going to behave towards him now that they knew his secret, or at least a part of it.
His arm had throbbed a little more than usual that day and he had put on the sling just in case. He had sneered at it for a full minute before putting it on, but now he was walking with his arm resting comfortably across of his stomach.
"Good afternoon." Saphira said softly as he entered the living room.
Axel stiffened when he heard him enter and continued to stare at the TV screen with newfound interest. Murtagh sighed inwardly and walked to make himself some lunch.
"Is Eragon with you?" The blonde female asked as she stirred a spoon in the cup she was trying to drink.
"No." Murtagh replied.
Saphira frowned.
"Axel and I have been up for the past hour and we haven't seen Eragon at all. He wasn't in bed when Axel got up." She said with a slightly worried tone. "We figured he must have been with you."
Murtagh froze. He heard the outer door open and close and turned around just as Arya came into view.
"Arya, have you seen Eragon?" Saphira asked her.
Arya frowned.
"No, I just got back." She said and shook her head.
The entire room fell silent. Murtagh stalked out of the room and checked the rest of the house. Empty. Feeling the panic in him rise, he stalked outside. There were no signs of any disturbance, and just that made his panic worsen. He searched the premises with critical eyes. He tore his arm out of the sling and half-ran ten paces ahead. Murtagh crouched down and picked up the white cloth with the fabric of his sling.
"Fuck." He swore.
"Murtagh?"
"YOU FUCKING BASTARD!" Murtagh screamed.
"Murtagh, what's going on?" Axel hollered from the doorway.
Murtagh turned around with another sneer on his lips. Arya, who had been walking towards him, stopped in her tracks.
"Rider has been taken."
A/N Please don't kill me!! :ducks behind her chair to avoid being hit by flying and lethal objects: Yes, I know I'm evil, for many reasons this time, but pretty please don't kill me for ending it here!
I actually don't have a lot to comment on this chapter. Well, apart from "ooh, the plot thickens!" Lol. Also, some of you may have noticed (those that read the warnings that is) that I've changed the Slash/Yaoi part. I read the story through, and figured that the warning Slash/Shōnen-ai fit better. This does not mean that there won't be any action! I'm just warning you that the story won't have any heavy action. Why do you think the sequel was made? :wink:
As for when the next part will be out? Well, I've looked at my calendar and have mapped out the days I will post. Since this is my last year living at home, I will be leaving for a vacation with my parents in late July. This means that I may not be able to post the entire sequel while I'm away. But I will get back to this when I know more about this and when the sequel is (hopefully) finished. I'll have the next chapter out sometime around this weekend.
I know you may already know some of the words, but I'm adding them all just in case.
Police Speak:
Safe-house – what the name implies; a house where people who are suspected to be a target is taken for protection. Very few knows the location of these houses and who's in them
MO – short for Modus Operandi, which stands for manner of operating. Basically it means the method a routine criminal uses to commit his crimes, e.g. the weapon he uses or the way he kills his victims
Everyday Joe – the man on the street, a random face in the crowd
HQ – short for Head Quarters
I.D. – short for Identify